Book burning and the complicity of South African librarians, 1955-1971

Abstract

This article attempts to explain how and why librarians in South Africa became agents and accomplices in book burning from 1955 to 1971. Growing authoritarianism in the library profession and attempts to regulate reading are examined as key reasons for allowing this holocaust of literature. The article also asks whether book burning can ever happen again in South Africa.



Innovation No.28 2004: 31-40